Water level at Shihmen Reservoir reaches 27-year low

Water supplies are running low amid an unusually inactive typhoon season. The Feitsui, Tsengwen, and Shihmen reservoirs have all dropped below 50% capacity. In particular, Shihmen Reservoir''s water supply has reached the lowest point in 27 years. On Thursday, the Water Resources Agency turned to cloud seeding to induce rain over Shihmen Reservoir, but the results were disappointing. Let''s now hear from a water resources official.

Kuo Yao-cheng
Water Resources Agency
It’s true that compared to the past, in terms of our water levels over the years, the current water supply is below average. Yesterday’s rainfall in the catchment area for Shihmen Reservoir was 1.6 millimeters. Most of it may have already evaporated because of the weather.

Chen Wei-liang
CWB forecaster
In the western region, the average summer rainfall was about 40 to 50% of the climatic average of previous years. It was indeed noticeably less.

According to the Central Weather Bureau, rainfall will be sparse throughout the fall season. From September to November, the daily probability of rain is unlikely to exceed 50% anywhere in the nation. The Water Resources Agency is urging the public to conserve water.